Hopper mechanism for automatic looms.



E. S. STIMPSDN. HOPPER MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC Looms.

APPLICATION FILED APILS. 1911.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

' 1 .Be, itknown that I, Ehwann a citizen of theUnited States,

, in connection with the like characters onthe UNITED, spares PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. BTHAIPBON, 01' HOPEDALE, HLSSAGHfiSETTSfABSIGHOB T0 DIAPER G01!- rm, or 302mm, nassscnusms,

norrnn 'xncnunsu non. anromrrc Looms.

' Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

To all whom it "my-concern:

S Srmrson, and resident ,of Hopedale, county o'f'Worcester, State'of 'Massachusetts, have inventedan Improve ,ment in Hopper, Mechanism for Automatic Looms,.of which the following description,

' accompanying draw- ;mg, isa specification,

drawing representing like parts.

o. This invention has for its objeot'the pro t 'duction'of' novel mechanism for actuating .and tcontrollhlg the s u e! movement of the feeder or hopper of an automatic loom of the ty e wherein the reserve filling-carriers or he bins are mountedin an intermittingly movy one .a le hopper and are presented one to the working ,in position to be transferred When filling such usually necessary to disengage 1ttern o- ,rarily from the controlling devices in or er -,t hat;itmay be turned backward, and in United States Patent No. 823,644 1 June 19, 1906 to shown ,and described for efi'ecting such temporary release of the hopper from memechanism shown in said patent 'also'em odyin cer- Jain'flesirableand novel features 0 conslruction. One objection to the patented structure is w tation imposed; by the detent pawl'when it 1 and the filling-carriers,

' that if the hopper is turned feed-pawl are disengaged from the hopper ratchet, such restriction necessitating several empty compartments which otherwise ,might lie-utilized for additional and another objectionis the liability of injuring the hand of the weaver jif the released hopper is quickly turned backward. In my present invention I have obviated both of these ob'ectionable features and I have so arrang the mechanism backward ra idly the then leading filling-carrier therein cannot strike the hand of the weaver, but

the contrary will act, to throw the detent-pawl automatically into engagement --.with the hopper ratchet. The hopper actusiting mechanism .also involves certain other d' 4 ward the at novel featuresof q'fistruction and arrangement to be hereina or explained in detail. Heretofore the etc or abutment against which the fi ing-carrier moves tolpeciflcatlonot licficr l' l'atent. Application axed-1 m s, an. mm in. exam.

.fixed an .proper position a. hopper it isstrainasfrequently exerted uponthe yieldflange of granted me and another means are] the. restriction to retrograde roelevation and parti the. fimefof hipster pawland it rocking q m er -Eigiki'ijs,

-L CORPORATION OF mun.

has been rigidly mounted on the hopper stand in some cases, as-in the patent ret o,'w1th.a pieldin buffer or cushionmg device at the ack o the path of transfor, and in other cases the abutment has been yieldipgly sustained, while osite or rear slde of rr' pass has been rigid as in my prior atent o. 868,586granted October- 15, 1907. Both structures have their ad vantages, and some disadvantages, ,the latter due to the fact that, owing mentum and the relative looseness of its actuating devices,the lay cannot be in exactly the same position every time change of filling takes place. If the abutment is the lay is not in its-theoretically for transfer an Iundue butter, with the result that r, ils'supportmg stud, pro ect-mg laterall I I -from the the hopper stand, is eflected sufficiently to break such flange and render the hopper worthless until a new stand can be provided. If the abutment is yieldingly mounted, as in the last mentioned patent,

tends to cause breaka e the filling-carrier, an in some cases the 'fixed rear wall of the-throat itself is'broken. In my present invention I rovidea yieldingly mounted abutment, as mentioned patent, andI also use a yieldi boiler to form the hack of the throat, suc buffer being so constructed and mounted that even i undue strain is exerted there ups; the hopper stand will not be dama The various novel features of my inven tion will be fully d escribed in the subjoined specification and articularly pointed out in the following o aims. a Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the hopper of an automatic filling-replenishin loom of the Northro type illustrat in the atents referred to, with one embodiment o my present inventionoshown in connection therewith, th 7 site being in normal position; Fig. 2 is a etail view of a portion of such mechanism show' actuating means; Fi 3 is a'detail in, section of the to its moso" this-positioning of the lay du transfer of th la ghuttle or" in my lastthe),

hopper disengaged from the control of its "10 5 The hopper stand A having at the 26 'l'he hopper, e inproine two d Y 30 a sleeve-like huh 3, the

inner side yiea of a )ortion of the hopper attend and the yielring hatter. mounted thereon andf'orming a part of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective riew o 5 the hotter,

front: Fig. 6 is a detail in side elevation of the feed-pawl, and its carrier, detached from the other parts of the mechanism.

hack of its 'lower'part -a curved flange o', the .stud f fasten the stand and having mount- .ed thereon the rocking transferrer i'-to rethe-hopper to t working .-huttle it when iatlie replenishing ho x C of the lay D, Fig.

1, said 'trannferrer intprartiee having a retracting aprlngfiand a usual tip-depres. the li.\'ed watt :0-

. in 'memher not shown) -on the part-o of the hopper stand. the ahutmont 4a": morahly eolmeeted with the svat.

and .the spring: -tt. which yieldingly inaiir tains the ahuttnent in normal poailir-n. may :he and are all si-ilista'ntially as in-my-latent No. 368,586 above referred to.

' ink-like )lates, one of which, as

:the p ates 'ofthehopper heing count edihy herein a scrim of circularly-arranged tool:- ets or seats 4 for the .hntte of the [i ling- .earriers 5, and said plate has on its outer face a ratehet- (t of usual emwtruetion, the teeth thereof corresponding in numher and nsitien with the number and hosition of the seats 4.

A detent-iawl 7 stand A and has a tooth 9 to eoii ierate nor-. Q malty with the rate-hot a'nd there )y prevent retro ade rotation of the hopper.,. the weig ted foot; 10 of said pawl Herring to maintain ratchet, as shown in Fig. 1. p

in the present embodiment of my invention the trannfm'rer f has on its outer. fare a lateral huh I! whieh forum a hearing :1 pivot-stud 1-. fixedly went-ed to and extended horizonallrfrom an upturned arm "9 or pnwl-rarrier l2. lm'alml adjaerat the inner fare of the lranalierrer and provided at its rear edge with an upright tnhular seat 14 for a rolled opringlii. At its upper end the nnrL-earrier.has a transverse huh 1"- 55 in w \ieh in pivoted a Ii 17 serured to the roarwardly extending eed-pawl 18 having a laterally enlarged head 19 adapted to rooperatr with the ratrhet "v. .-aid head at one sltlt' prelim-ting laterally hrhind the detent paw I and at its oppin-ite aide having a lateral ear -20 engaged h the tree and at the apt-Em: 15. Figs. 1 and 53. I m luil iii of the teed-pawl l-i in normally held hy wring til upon a lateral atop .t. on the pa-a'l-earrier t t. said .--top thua limiting detached, and \lEWLtl from the .the finger piece, tl

is pit'oted at S on the it iii-proper roi'aperation with the.

for

The front end I the feeder.

spring-iinlaeed movement of the teed-pawl relatively tothe pawl-carrier 13.

Referring to Fig. 3. a apring. 23 is coiled around the utltd 12 and at its inner end is serured to the hearing hub 11, the outer end of said spring being secured to a sleeve 24 inrlo-ing said .-.pring and pinned to the stud at 23. The spring in so wound that it normally irea es the pawl-carrier rearward to bring t 1e head 19 of the feed-pa wl into operative engagement with the ratchet 6,115 shown in F ig. 1, the head cticking over the ratchet teeth when the downward stroke of the -tran.-ferrer f" draws the pawl-rarrier 13 down to [Itlh'llltlll the feed-pawl for its feedint; stroke.

.fter the .ttttltltttfit filling-rarri-r in the ,hopper has hern transferirtl to the shuttle the transterrer rises, and an the pawl-earrn-r w lifted the spring 13 tH first rompresned. cuehioning the blow of the head 19 upon the ratchet. tooth next ahove it, and as the. compression of the spring is continued the inertia of the hopper is overcome and the advance of the hopper is rompleted as I. is herein shown. as rotatahl mounted on' a horizontal stud: lixedlv serured to the stand. A,

the parts resume the position shown in El 1, the. feed henig completed when the em most filhng-earrierin the series engages the .ahutment 45. ianerplate -1 taxing The pawl-Carrier has a frontward extensien-Jtl protided with a lateral enlargement or fin'ger piece 27. "hen it is desired to d isengage the hopper from the feed and detent pawla the wearer presaes downward upon \erehy retracting the pawl-rnrrier and feed-pawl to the position shown in Fig. 2, and us the head 19 is withdrawn from the ratrhet t) it engages the rear edge of the detent. pawl T and retruets the tooth 9 thereof from the ratchet 6, so that the hopper can he rotated freely in one or the other dii'ertion.. 'lhe retraction of the pawls is limited by the engagement of an enlargement- .28 on the pawl T with a fixed stop 29 made as a log onthe hopper stand A. ()hserving Fig. 2 it will he been that when the pants are retrarled' the tail 21 of the feed-pawl is iositioned in the path of the. hntt of it til in 'rarrier if the hopper is turned harkwari the top and outer end of the tail being eonvexed to form a t'tttl'l nurtaee. If. now, a filling-carrier. or several. he in the hopper when it is released from the control of the pawls and turned harkward, in the direction of arrow 100, Fig. 2, the hull of the leading lilting-carrier, no 5', will strike the pawl tail 21 and will either etleet stoppage of the hopper. or it. will slide mat and push rent-wart the pawl tail and in so doing throw the pawls into engagement. with the ratchet (t, to tlwreln. stop In either ease the ti.-gers or hand of the wearer, aetin upon the finger piece 27, cannot. he at-rue and injured by the advaneiug filling-earlier. Should the I result, but if the motion of the transferred to the shuttle,

' 'downcurved at its front ed facilitate the passe e of the utt ofi-the fill rest in. p 4

stand by the plate 60, and the yoke-like base retrograde movement of the hopper be quick and powerful, as b a sudden strong impulse imparted by t e weaver, the cam action between the butt oi the filling-carrier and the convex surface of the pawl tail will opper'is less. powerful and slow the pawl tail'will of itself serve as a stop, as will be understood. The retraction of the pawls from the hopr ratchet is easily accomplished with one and, as the spring 23 has no greattension, the other ban of theweaver being left free to manipulate the hop at. v The maximum'num r of filling-carriers canbe loaded into the hopper, for they can extend from the a' utment ,in.a se ries around to a point close to the retracting extension or lug 26. y p a I will .now describe the'yielding butler which forms the back of thethroat or passage through which the filling-carriers are referring princi pallytoFigs.4=and5.

A yoke-shaped base of sheet metal is frontwardly extended at one epd, at 51, to. constitute the butler, preferably slightly e, asat 52,- to

ing-carrier past it uring transfer, the'other.

end of the yoke being extended and bnt'npward at 53 and notched at 54,-. ,Fig, 5. A transverse depression or groove 55 st the junction of the base and said extensions 51, '53, receives a stout pin 56, heldin place by .the overlapping parts 57 of a caplate, 58

riveted to the base 50. The ex middle part of the pin 56 is support in a trans verse seat -v59 formed in t e end of a resilientcured by a bolt 61 to flattened face '62'on the exterior of the flange a on the hop r stand A, a transverse semi-cylindrical soc et 63*, see dotted lines, Fi 1, being formed in the stand for the mid le part of pin 56'to The pin is thus attached to the 50 and its extensions 51, 53 are pivotally' mounted on said pin, with the extension or bufl'er 51 at the outer side of the stand adjacent the lower end of the flange a andthe extensidn 53 is u -turned ad'acent its inner side. A headed bolt- 63 is xedly mounted in the notch 54 of theextension: 53, Fig. 4, and extends between two stop lugs 64 projectin from the stand A, while a spring 65 1s coi ed around 'said bolt between its head and a washer 66 restin upon said lugs, the spring acting to iel ingly maintain the bufi'er 51 in normal position, shown in Figs. ,1 and 4. The inner side of the stand is recessed or cut away at 67 to permit the play of the extension 53 audio receive the adjacent part 57 of the cap-p ate 58, as shown in Fig. 4.

' When a filling-carrier istransfer ifed la Triers, a ratchet rotatable therewith, and a the hop r to the shuttle the butier 51 is pushed ownward, compressing spring '65,

as the butt of the filling-carrier moves over it into the shuttle, the abutment 45 at the front of the throat yielding more or less as may be necessary. If the position of the lay demands, it the bufi'er can dip somewhat into the shuttle, protecting the rear wall thereof as'the fillmg-carrier is forced into place b the transferrer,'while at other times the bi: erwill' yield enough-to direct'the fillflan ed part a of the hopper stand even if the 'uiier is subjected to a very abnormal and severe strain.

B 'maki both of the trans erring passage for the butts of 'thefilli'ng-carriers yleldable I obtain a'very smooth action during transfer, reduce wear and tear, and obviate the tendency to break-. age, particularly of the hopper stand, should any 'dnusual strains-beset .u during the transferrin operation, while 't e articular structure 0 t e butter and its a juncts is s'im 1e, efiicient,and easily made.

Ifavm -f lly described my invention, what I c aim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. A rotatable hopper having-an attached ratchet and adapte ranged series of filling-carriers, a transferrer to hold a circularly-arhaviiag a lateral hub, a pawl-carrier having an attached pivot/stud mounted to rock in the hub, a sprin coiled about the stud withinsaid hub an connected at its endswith the stud and hub, res ectively, to swing the pawl-carrier rearwar ,a feed-pawl ivotally mounted-"on the pawl-carrier and aving a head normally maintained by said spring in operative engagement with the ratchet, a cushioni spring interposed between the pawl bee; and the pawl-carrier, to prevent shock when movementof the transferrer to normal position acts through tliepawl-carxed in the" the front and rear sides rier to efiect the feed-stroke of said pawl to advance the hop r, and a stop on the pawl carrier, latcra y extended under and to coiiperate with the tail of'the feed-pawl to limit movement thereof due to the cushper to hold circular y-arra series 0 transferrer to remove the filling-carriers one I by one, combined with a detent pawl to'cooperate with the'ratchet and prevent retrofulcrum for said aw], a feed-pawl having a ratehct'engaging lead laterally e. \tended rehind the deleut pawlh pawl-carrier movahle "with and 'also' relatively to thetransferrer and o'n'whieh carrier the feed-pawl in pivotallymount'ed. and a retracting extension mt the niwl-carrier adapted to be mannallvcn- 'agcd to retract said ntwl-enrrier and t irrey disengage its heat from the ratchet, the lateral extension of the head at such time eoop'erating with the detent pawl to disengage it from the ratchet.

A'rotatahlehopper adapted to hold a eircularl at-ranged series of tillin "carriers,

a trans errer, means mounted t tereon lo' ctiect angulanadvanee movement of the hopperaftereach operation of the transferrer, said means including a feed-pawl having a laterally elv tentlcdhead, a detent pawl for the hopper, mounted independently of the transferrer, the laterally extended head of thejeedmwl projecting,hehind the detent pawl, and a manually actuated device to retract 'andrender inoperative the fetal-pawl,

a frontwardlv projecting retracting 'sion provide a laterally extended the headthereof at such time engaging and rendering the detent pawl inoperative, the tail of the feed-pawl when -retracted extendingin'to' the 'path of a filling-carrier in thehopper and serving to prevent contact with the sand of the operator when the hopper is turned backward.

pawl pivoted on' the a tail at its front'end havin and a stop for the tail, on t to pawl-carrier,

'the 'retractin a detent pawl for the hopper, mounted independently of the transferrer and located in front of the head of the feed-pawl, and a cushioning spring normally maintaining the pawl tail on the at.op, 'manual depression of extension moving the pawlcarrier and eed-pawl bodily to render the head inoperative, the latter simultaneously engaging the detent pawl'and rendering it inoperative, the cam surface of the pawl tail at such time hein interposed in the path of a filling-carrier i the hopper is turned backward, engagement of such filling't'arrier with the cam surface acting to stop movement of the hopper and to restore the feed and dctent pawls to operative ptmition.

5. A rotatable ho iper having an attached ratchet and ada itet to hold a eirenlarLv-arranged series 0 filling-carriers, a transferrcr to'rcmove them one by one, a pawl-carrier pivoted on the transferrer and movable with and also relatively to it, a feed-pawl 'hopper when the latter fulcrtun'ed on the pawl-carrier and normally cotipcrating with the ratchet to advance the hopper one step after each operation of said transferrer, an independent y mounteddetent pawl to cooperate with the ratchet and prevent retrograde rotation of the hop er, a, mamiall; operated member on the aw -carrier to retract it and the feedaw and disengage the latter from the rate tet, means to disengage the-detent pawl from said ratchet h v nut-action of the feed-pawl, and means to cause said pawls to retngage the ratchet by cooperation with a filling-carrier 1n the is turned backward, the manual retraction of th pawl-carrier placing said latter means in the path of such a titling-carrier.

6. rotatable ho )per having an attached ratchet and ada itetl to hold a circularly, i1rranged series o filling-carriers, a transfer rer to remove them one bv one, an actuatin instrumentality governed normally by said transferrer to advance the hopper one step after each operation of the transfer-rel, an independently acting; tletent to prevent retrograde rotation o the hopper manually operated means to disengage the hopper from the control of said instrumentality and the detent, and a device operatively positinned at such time to be engaged by a filling-carrier in the ho per if the latter is turned backward, suci engagement acting automatically to restore the hopper to the control of the detent and the actuating instrumentalit "and to prevent injury to the hand of the weaver.

7. In a loom, a rotatable hopper adapted to contain a circularly-armaged serie\' of filling-carriers, an abutment against which rests the leading; filling-carrier in position to be transferre a stand on which said hopper is mounted, said stand having a transverse,-downpardl r open socket, a butter to act upon t to filling-carrier being transferred, o fulcrum pin for the butler, seated in the open aocket, a resilient plate attached to the' stand and extended beneath and coope'ating with the pin to maintain it seated in ie aockct, and a spring coti crating with the butter and permitting yie din pivotal movement thereof when engaged fir a fillingcarrier during transfer of the same from the hop 101', the butter heing pivotally mounted on t 1e ends of the pin at each side of the pin-retaining plate.

S. In a loom, a rotatable hopper adapted to contain a circularly-arranged series of filling-carriers, a stop or abutment for the leading filling-carrier, a stand for the hopper. a 8|)l'lltg-t'tilttl'flllttl butter to e06 wrote with a filling-carrier during transfer hereof front the hop ver. a pivot pin on the end portions of w rich the hull'er is fulerumed, and a resilientplate fixedly attached to the stand and having a transverse. open seat in which the pivot pin is supported, between the parts of the pin on which the buffer is fulorumed.

9. In a loom, a rotatable hopper adapted to contain a oircninrly-erronged series of filling-carriers, a stop or abutment for the leading filling'ezrrrier, a stand for the hoper, a yoke-llke baec having at one end a rontward extension constituting a butter and at its other end an upturned extension, a pivot pin connected with said base and exposed between the extensions thereof, a plate fixedly attached to the hopper stand and lniving a transverse, open seat for the exposed portion of the pivot pin, to hold the latter and the attached parts in operative position, and yielding means connecting the hopper stand and. the upturned extension of the base to yieldingly maintain the buffer in operative position.

10. In a loom, a rotatable hopper adapted. to contain a circularlynrranged series of filling carriers, feeding mechanism therefor, and means located outside of the circumference of the hopper beyond the path of move ment of a filling-carrier, to release the hop- I per from control of its feeding means.

11. In a loom, a rotatable hopper adapted to contain a. circularlyhrrenged series of filling carriers, feeding mechanism therefor, manually operated means to release the hopper from control of its feeding mechanism, and means adapted to he engaged by a filling-cerrier'in the hopper to cause the feeding mechmiisnl to re-assume control of the hopper automatically when said hopper has been turned a predetermined distance in a retrograde direction, the releasing means being located beyond the path of movement of e filling-carrier and at 1 distance from the means adapted to he engaged by suchcar rier, to thereby pre ent injury to the operator when manipulating the hopper.

In testimony whereoii l have signed my name to this spceifi 'ntiol'o in the presence of two subscribing 'witmssees.

EDWARD S. STIMPSON.

Witnesses:

R. J. BAOKIEOUSE, E. D. 056001). 

